Newspaper rack



D66. 20, 1949 R L D 7 2,491,615

NEWSPAPER RACK Filed Dec. 16, 1946 5 She'ets-Sheet 1 R. L. LAIRD NEWSPAPER RACK Dec. 20, 1949 Filed Dec. 16, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 MHZUHMM W8 Patented Dec. 20, 1949 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

This invention relates to a newspaper dispensing rack, the primary object of the invention being to provide means controlled by a coin, for selecting a newspaper from a pack of newspapers and delivering the newspaper from the rack, the operation being controlled by the turning of a crank.

An important object of the invention is to provide a device of this character which will protect the newspapers against the elements, the newspapers being removed only by the action of a selecting member operating adjacent to the discharge opening of the housing or container proper.

'Still another object of the invention is to provide a newspaper dispensing device wherein the cover may be moved to open the entire top of the container, to permit the newspaper to be positioned within the container with facility.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts, hereinafter more fully described and pointed out in the claim,

' it being understood that changes may be made in the construction and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention as claimed.

Referring to the drawings Figure 1 is a perspective view of a newspaper vending device constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is a plan view thereof, the cover having been moved to its open position.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmental perspective view of the paper selecting roller.

Figure 5 is a fragmental perspective view of the follower that operates within the housing.

Figure 6 is an enlarged sectional detai1 view illustrating the selector roller as moving the newspaper to a position directly over the discharge opening of the vendor.

Figure 7 is a sectional view taken on line l---'! of Figure 2.

Figure 8 is a fragmental enlarged sectional view taken on line 8-43 of Figure 7.

Figure 9 is a fragmental sectional view through the coin control mechanism, illustrating the mechanism as operated by the action of the coin dis-posed in the coin chute of the device.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the device comprises a container or housing indicated generally by the reference character 5, the housing having a hinged front wall 6 and a hinged cover 1, the cover 1 and front wall 6 being held closed by means of the hasp 8 which may be locked by means of a padlock not shown.

Secured within the container or housing 5 is a forwardly inclined auxiliary bottom 9 that has its front edge disposed directly above the discharge opening lfl formed along the lower front edge of the main bottom ll, so that newspapers may be delivered from the bottom 9 to the opening. Directly under the opening ID, are the arms [2 which are arranged adjacent to the ends of the container or housing, the arms I2 being inclined downwardly, the free ends thereof being curved upwardly as at l3 providing stops for the newspaper which is delivered through the opening l0 and falls onto the arms H! which form the rack from which the paper may be removed.

Mounted within the container or housing 5 and arranged adjacent to the end walls hi there-- of are guide rods l 5 that have their forward ends secured within the bracketslfi, while the rear ends thereof extend downwardly at l1 where they extend through openings in the brackets l8 that are secured to the rear wall l9 of the container or housing 5.

Mounted for sliding movement longitudinally of the guide rods [5, are sleeves 20 that have connection with the side edges of the follower plate 2|, through the ears 22 which are secured to the follower plate 2| by means of the screws 23. Thus, it will be seen that due to this construction, the follower plate 2| is held at an oblique angle with respect to the auxiliary bottom 9 to support the news-papers which in the present showing are indicated by the reference character A in inclined positions within the container or housing 5. Extending transversely across the front end of the container or housing 5 is a stop rod 24 that engages the forwardmost newspaper and prevents the upper ends of the newspapers from tilting forward. In other words, the newspapers are held in inclined positions between the rod 24 and follower plate 2|, as clearly shown by Figure 3 of the drawings.

Ihe reference character 25 indicates a weighted roller that rests on the auxiliary bottom 9 and engages the follower plate 2| at a point adjacent to the lower edge thereof. The action of this roller is to normally urge the follower plate 2! forwardly to the end that as newspapers are delivered from the container or housing, the follower plate 2| will move forwardly holding the newspapers in a pack.

The reference character 26 indicates the deliv- 3 ering roll and is shown as having one end mounted in the bearing 21, while the opposite end thereof is mounted in the bearing 28 carried in the partition 29 of the housing.

This delivering roll is disposed along the lower front edge of the auxiliary bottom 9 in spaced relation therewith, and is provided with a line of pins 30 and a plurality of lifter arms 3| arranged at right angles with respect to the pins and with such relation to the pins '30, when. the pins contact the lower-edge of a newspaper, the pins will separate the foremost newspaper from the pack so that it may be engaged by the lifter arms which follow the pins, the lifter arms operating to carry the newspaper forwardly to'a' position directly over the discharge opening; where the newspaper is delivered to the arms l2. Mounted on one end of the roller26 is a gear 32 which meshes with the gear 33 carried on the inner end of the shaft that extends through one end wall of the container or housing 5,, where it issupplied with the handle 35 for operating theshaft 34. Ordinarily the shaft 34 is prevented from movement in one direction, by means of the spring arm 36 which is secured to the bottomof the container'or housing 5 and'has an inwardly extended finger 31, formed with a lug at its free end, adapted to rest in the recess 38, formed in the shaft34. The coin chute 39 extends through the top of the container orhousing and has its lower end'dis'posed adjacent to the shaft 34 so that a coin positioned the chute 39will be delivered to'the coin slot 49 formed in the shaft 34. The upper end'of the spring arm 36 is bevelled as at to provide a surface against which the coin 42 deposited in the coin slot 40 may engage, moving the arm 36'to a position to cause thefinger 31 to be moved'from the recess 38, permitting the shaft 34' to rotate and operate the deliveringrolllfi'to remove a paper.

In order that the shaft 34 will be held against reverse movement,- teeth 43'extend therefrom and are engaged by the spring arm 44 that is secured to the'bottomof the'container or housing.

It might be further stated that the opening or coin slot 40 is of a size so that a coin of the size of a penny, will slide therethrough, while a coin of the size of a nickel will be held in the slot to actuate the mechanism to deliver a paper.

In view of the foregoing, it is believed that in view of the detailed description, the construction and operation of the device will be clear, and that a further description of the devic is unnecessary.

What is claimed is:

A newspaper vending machine comprising a container having a delivery opening formed in the bottom thereof adjacent to the front edge of the container, an inclined auxiliary bottom within .thecontainer on which the lower edges of a stack of newspapers rest, the front edge of the auxiliary bottom being disposed adjacent to the delivery opening, a delivering roll disposed horizontally of the container and mounted at the lower front'edge of the bottom directly over the delivery opening, a line of spaced pins extending from the delivering roll and arranged throughout the length of the roll, lifting arms radiating from the delivering roll extending at right-angles with respect to the pins, each lifting arm including a right angled end, said pins separating a newspaper from the stack of newspapers held within the container, delivering the selected newspaper onto the lifting arms, and said lifting arms adapted to force a paper through the delivery opening, as the roll is rotated.

ROBERT L. LAIRD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,022,680 Johnson Apr. 9, 1912 2,396,411 Cameron Mar. 12, 1946 2,432,415 Hatcher et al. Dec. 9, 1947 

